Container



P. ZALKIND May 17, 1938.

CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR PHIL/P z 9; MM) BY Q 5..4 WA

ATTORNEY P. ZALKI ND May 17, 1938.

CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 3, 1932 INVENTQRBYP/viL/P Z/QAK/AD ATTORNEY P. ZALKIND- May 17, 1938.

CONTAINER Originl Filed Sept. 5, 1932 4 SheetS- -Sheet s INVENTORBYPH/i/P Z 19L Kl/VD ATTORNEY May 17, 1938.

P. ZALKIND CONTA INER ATTORNEY Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATESCONTAINER Philip Zalkind, Bronx, N. Y.

Original application September 3, 1932, Serial No. 631,682, now PatentNo. 1,946,516, dated February 13, 1934. Divided and this applicationSeptember 21, 1933, Serial No. 690,360

16 Claims.

My invention relates to novel casings and drawers adapted'to be stackedto form a file cabinet or the like, and more particularly, relates tocasings and cooperating drawers, which are collapsible and accordinglyadapted to be shipped in knock-down condition. Although containers orcasings have heretofor been constructed of sheet material such ascardboard, corrugated board, and similar materials,

these have been found to be deficient in rigidity,

stability, load-carrying capacity, and facility in operating the drawer.And as to the last, particularly where attempt has been made to stack aplurality of casings each containing a loaded drawer. In such instances,the load in each casing affected all the casings below it, producingvarious degrees of bowing of side walls, distortion and binding at theopen ends of the casings, making operation .difiicult, and seriouslyaffect- .ing the life and usefulness of such containers. Accordingly,among the objects of my invention are to provide: a novel, inexpensiveand rugged container or casing adapted for storing records and the like;means in a stack of individual casings for maintaining a predeterminedgeometrical configuration and dimension at the open edge or mouth ofeach casing; reinforcing or stiffening means at the open end or mouth ofmy novel casing construction; supporting means 30 adapted to beinterposed between the upper and lower walls of a container; metallicreinforcing means at the open end of collapsible casings; coacting meansat the edges of open ends; a casing reinforced solely at the open end; acontinuous 35 load-carrying means in a stack of containers; reinforcingmembers at the open end of a collapsible container so constructed thatthe reinforcements on superposed casings are in engagement with eachother causing the load in one casing .10 to bear directly on thereinforcing member of the casings below, and means for aligning suchreinforcing members .to each casing. Other objects are to provide, in acollapsible casing construction of the character of material mentioned,

45 means to prevent sway, rock or wobble; to construct such a noveldevice so that it may be manufactured to be shipped in a knock-downcondition, of simple and easy assembly and erection by the user; toprovide such novel containers .70 and casings in knocked-down condition,thus adapted to lie substantially fiat, requiring a minimum of space forshipment and storage, providing low cost, handling, marketing anddistribution and reduced risk of damage before 55 being put in use.

In using individual drawers and casings, ordinarily the casing tends tomove with the drawer when an attempt is made to move the drawer out ofor into its casing, due to friction between the loaded drawer and itscasing. 5

Moreover, this difficulty becomes more serious when such casings anddrawers comprise a stack, the danger then being to disrupt the stack.

I have discovered that by so mounting the casings with respect to eachother that adjoining 10 edges of the reinforcing members of adjacentcasings are in engagement and in interlocked relation with each other,the total load from all of the drawers can be carried by the reinforcingmembers acting as an aligned unitary structure. 15

In moving anyone drawer from the casing, the

load of all the other drawers is applied to and holds the'casing backand permits the drawer to be readily removed.

Accordingly, a further object is to provide in- 20 terlocking means in astack of casings.

Other objects are to provide interlocking means cooperating betweenreinforcing members at the open end of casings mounted in a stack; meansto align side walls, and end walls; means in 00- operation with thereinforcing members to prevent the casings in a stack from sliding withreference to each other; means in a stack of open end casings fortransmitting the load of each casing to the adjacent casing throughmetal connections; a casing, for cabinet drawers or containers as abovedescribed, constructed of material similar to that of the drawer, andhaving one end closed in any suitable manner and the edge portion of theother end or mouth reinforced by cooperating or interlocking strips,adapted to stiffen the mouth of the casing and prevent the material fromfraying out, and, as occasion re.- quires, to also form a rabbet at theopening of said container; to construct container casings of 40 suitablesheet material in combination with reinforcing strips of suchconstruction and so disposed that the container may be shipped inknocked-down condition and be readily assembled by the consumer; toprovide means for locking or keying the metal reinforcings of a stack ofcasings together, to prevent said casings from sliding with respect toone another when they are stacked.

There are other objects and advantages of vmy invention which, togetherwith the foregoing, will appear in the following detailed description ofthe invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective. view of a casing,

adapted to receive a drawer constructed like those illustrated in myparent application Serial Number 631,682, filed September 3, 1932,issued as Patent No. 1,946,516, Feb. 13, 1934 of which the presentapplication is a division.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the open end of a drawer casing havingreinforcing strips on the inside thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows and showing the manner in which lugs orabutments formed near the ends of the upper and lower reinforcing stripsare employed to hold side reinforcing strips or posts in position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, includingone entire vertical post.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a channel or reinforcing strip usedin the casing shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a blank or development of sheet material having strips onthe front edge thereof and adapted to be folded to form the casing shownin Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a section taken on line 1--! of Figure 2, and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 shows a modified form of container having the front edgethereof reinforced with strip and post members adapted to be held inplace by means of abutments and adhesive tape in such a way as to form arabbet along the side walls at the mouth of the casing.

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8, and lookingin the direction of the arrows, showing the posts and upper and lowerstrips in operative position.

Figure 10 is a section taken on line l0-l0 of Figure 9 and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detailed view showing the construction of 'theupright posts and adhesive material for securing the same to the casing.

Figure 12 is a perspective View of the upper and lower channel orstiffening strips shown in Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a blank or development formed of sheet materialt-o whichposts and stiffening strips are secured and from which a casing likethat shown in Figure 8 may be made when the same are folded and securedin the proper position.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a modified form of easing like thatshown in Figure 8 in which the upright posts as well as the upper andlower stiffening strips are adapted to capture and slip over the edge ofthematerial.

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on line i5-l5 of Figure 14 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 16 is a view in perspective of the blank from which a casing likethat shown in Figure 14 may be made, shownjust before being folded uponitself in position ready for shipment and with the posts in reverseposition to adapt the casing to lie flat.

Figure 1'7 shows the manner in which a plurality of casings like thatshown in Figure 14 may be placed one upon the other in a stack.

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken on line l8l8 of Figure 1'7, andlooking in the direction of the arrows, showing the formation ofcorresponding cooperating grooves or slots in the reinforcing orstiffening strips at the front edge of the casing adapted to receive a ky to p vent a plurality of stacked casings from sliding with respect toone another.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the key shown in Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a view in perspective of a modified form of a casing havingthe front edge of the open end reinforced with metallic strips adaptedto be secured by adhesive material carried on pads or fillers disposedin said strips.

Figure 21 is a sectional view taken on line 2 l-2| of Figure 20 andlooking .in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 22 is a view of a blank or development from which a casing likethat shown in Figure 20 may be made, shown as about to be folded uponitself into position for shipment.

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a stiffening strip or channel forreinforcing the'edge of the container shown in Figure 20, and the mannerof carrying adhesive material, if desired, on a pad or filler disposedtherein; and

Figure 24 is an assembled view of a casing and container or file drawermade in accordance with my invention.

Figure 25 is a detail of the wire interlock arrangement of Figure 14.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 discloses one form of my casingand it will be noted that in general, the casing comprises a rectangulartube 3| with one end 32 left open and the other end 33 provided withclosure flaps secured to each other in any suitable manner, as by tape,and the. connected edges of the blank being secured together by any wellknown means, such for example, as the tape 34. The tube is formed of ablank substantially such-as shown in Figure 6 suitably cut and scored.

My invention contemplates so forming the open end of a collapsiblecasing that its shape is not distorted by the load of the casing. Forthis purpose the front or open end 32' of the casing is reinforced byfirst turning extensions ofthe material on itself along a scored edge toform a layer 35. If it is desired to further increase the strength ofthe front or open end of the casing, the material maybe again turned onitself to form a third layer as at 36. As will be obvious, thisprinciple may be followed by regulating the number of layers to obtainany desired reinforcement.

The extensions may be turned into place, and may be secured to theadjacent wall of the easing, as by adhesive, staples, rivets, or anyother suitable means. The reinforcing members may be simpleextensions'of their respective walls; or may be turned on themselvesforming face to face layers, which may be secured to each other. It ispreferred, however, that at least one pair, either the adjacent oropposing reinforcing members, be free from the adjacent walls of thecasing so that when the casing is collapsed for purposes of shipment,these free reinforcing members may be turned outwardly on their scorededges, so that they protrude from the front edge of the casing. As iswell known, the board most commonly used for such purposes is normallyadapted to be collapsed on the scores without provision for undue pullor strain resulting from interposing a bulk at the scores between theadjacent sides which are in face to face relation.

If all the reinforcing members were to be turned inwardly and the casingcollapsed, such interlying bulk at the common edges of the face to facewall members would normally be excessive and cause a rupture at thesecommon connecting curing means as illustrated in the top and right sidereinforced members in Figure 1.

The utility of this container will now be obvious. Normally forshipment, the container is collapsed to form a substantially flat unitwith two opposite or adjacent reinforced members' turned outwardlydepending on the manner of collapsing. It will be understood that thecasing is collapsed on scorings so that an edge with a reinforcingmember turned inwardly comes into face to face contact with an edgehaving its reinforcing member turned outwardly. Or, if preferred, all ofthe flaps may be turned outwardly whenthe casing is collapsed. In thatcase, none of the reinforcings are permanently secured to the walls ofthe casing. The upper and lower reinforcing members may be turned intoplace first and the side reinforcing members turned in to hold theformer in place. The side reinforcing members are then held in place byfriction. Or the reverse order of folding may be followed in which casethe side walls are held in place by the upper and lower reinforcingmembers. The scorings and cuts in either case are suitably made topermit any preferred order of folding.

At the consumers point, the collapsed container is first turned on itsscored edges to form the tube as shown in Figure 1 and the outwardlyprojecting reinforced members 35 are turned on their scored edges intothe position shown in Figure 1. Rear flaps are turned to closingposition and secured, and the container is ready for use.

Referring now to Figure 2, I have shown a casing formed as the tube inFigure 1 with four sides, one closed end, and one open end. However, Iprovide a different form of reinforcing member for the open end of thecasing, comprising metallic channels 4|.

The channel 4| is shown in perspective in Figure 5, and as disclosedthere, is substantially U- shaped with the edges turned inwardly to formlips 42 and 43. At the ends of the channel member 4|, abutments areprovided by projecting lugs 44 stamped out of the material.

The metallic U-shaped channel M is slipped over the flap 45 in Figure 3with the lips 42 and 43 cutting into and gripping the material, asillustrated, to anchor the channel in place. The flap 45,, thus seatedinside the U-shaped channel is turned inwardly along its scored edge asillustratedin Figure 3. The upright channels 4| are I mounted on theircorresponding flaps in the same manner and are further held in placeagainst the side walls and prevented from turning on their scored edgesafter the flaps have been turned inwardly on their scored edges, by theabutments 44 at the end of the top and bottom channel 4|.

In this case, for shipment, before collapsing the container, at leasttwo flaps with the channels secured thereto are first turned on their.

scored edges outwardly to permit ready collapsing.

In Figure 4, which is a cross section through one of the vertical posts4| and including a cross section of portions of the top and bottom sidewall, there is shown the outside wall 3| .with the adjacent layer of Umetal 4| and flap 45 sandwiched between the two sides of the channel. Asimilar cross section appears for the horizontal upper and lower edgewith the addition of the lugs 44.

Figure 6 shows in developed form the scored blank which is subsequentlyturned into the container shown in Figure 2. As shown, the blank issuitably scored and slotted as at 55 to form the four side walls 56 to59. At the rear end there are provided flaps 5| to 54 which provide theclosed end of the container and are secured in any well known manner.Metallic reinforcing members 4| slipped over and held in place on theirrespective flaps 45 in a-manner already described in detail, are shownwith alternate reinforcing members having lugs 44. As will now be clear,in the collapsed condition, all of the flaps with their reinforcingmembers may protrude from the open edge of the casmg.

Although for purposes of illustration I have here shown a specificconstruction of metal reinforcement, it will be obvious that any othersuitable construction coming within the principle of my invention whichbroadly contemplates the application of metallic reinforcing members tothe open edges of the container, may be used. Thus, for example, I mayuse a sheet metal which may be secured by clamping, riveting, etc. tothe flaps, as will be described in more detail hereinafter in connectionwith other modifications of my inven-- tion. Although I have heredescribed specifically the use of metal reinforcing members, it will beobvious that the principle of my invention embodies the use of anystiffening or reinforcing material such as various fibers, plastics,wood, etc. which may be integral therewith and is applied adjacent tothe edges.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 12, I have disclosed a modified form of myinvention in which the reinforcing member is substantially channelshapedand is secured by cloth or tape orvany other suitable flexible medium.Two horizontal members of one construction are secured to the horizontaledges of the casing. Two vertical reinforcing members of a differentconstruction are secured to the vertical edges of the casing.

As shown in Figure 12, in the horizontal reinforcing metal member 54,lugs GI and 62 are stamped at right angles to each other. As will appearfrom the following, abutment 6| retains the associated vertical postsagainst the side walls and abutment 62 prevents the post from slippingout. Stampings 63 and 64 are also provided to form transverselypositioned lugs for forcing member and the tape or cloth 66 is in--serted between the backing 65 and the side 61 of the channel member andlocked in position by the turned over edge 68 which pinches the materialin position.

By moistening tape 66 before turning the post or channel into supportingposition and thereafter turning the tape over the edge of the easing, itadheres to the edge and inner surface wall of the casing, thus supplyinga means for maintaining the channel as a support in predeterminedposition. The tape'serves at the same time to give protection and afinished appearance to the edge of thecontainer.

ing members do not change their positions when the casing is collapsed.

When the casing is set up into its tube form, the vertical posts Snareturned inward around their respective vertical edges of the casing andslipped over the abutments GI and 62, abutment 6| pressing theassociated parts against the side walls and the abutment 62 preventingtheir associated parts from slipping out.

It will now be clear from a comparison of Fig-- ures 1, 2, and 8 thatgenerally the open edges of collapsible casings are provided withreinforcing members which are arranged so that they do not injure thescored edges when the casing is collapsed. As shown in the illustrationsthus far given, all the reinforcing members may be secured to flapsextending from the casing edges, or two may be permanently secured tothe edges without hindering. collapsibility. Further combinations areobvious in view of the above.

This post and tape structure also provides means for forming, ifdesired, a rabbet by its position against the inner surface of the walland set in from the front edge so that when the drawer of properconstruction is slid into position, it will fit against the formedrabbet and provide a substantially dust proof container. It will beobvious that, if desired, the metal and tape structure may,be used onall four edges of the casing.

As shown in Figure 9, the tape 66 is secured to the outside verticalwalls of the casing in any suitable manner as, for example, by adhesive,

stitching and the like with the reinforced channel normally protrudingbeyond the open edge of the casing as shown at the right end in Figure8, lhe reinforcing member 60 constitutes the vertical posts throughwhich the loads of the drawers above are transmitted to the next lowercasing as will be described in more detail hereinafter in connectionwith a stack of casings.

Normally for shipment, the casing '70 (Figure 8) is collapsed with thetwo vertical-posts 60 extending beyond the front edge of the casings asillustrated in connection with one of the vertical posts in Figure 8. Atthis time, the top and bottom horizontal reinforcing members 59 havebeen slipped into place and clamped in position. In addition the lugs 63grip the material of the casing. When the casing is to be assembled, itis first turned to assume a tubular position. The rear flaps are securedto form a closed rear end. The vertical reinforcing posts 60 are turnedaround the edges of the casing and slipped over the lugs 6| and 62 whichthen lock these posts in position as described hereinbefore.

The developed view of the blank from which,

the casing is made is shown in Figure 13 and illustrates the reinforcingmembers 59 at the top and bottom edges of the blank with their lugs BIand 62 at the ends and the lugs 63 and 64 to assist in gripping thewalls to lock the reinforcing mem her in position. Vertical reinforcingposts 60 are shown secured to the tape material 66 and in turn aresecured to the outside surface of the vertical panels.

Referring now to Figures 14 to 19, I have disclosed. a furthermodification of 'my invention in which the reinforcing members H actingas vertical posts are adapted to be applied to the end edges of the wallwith the outer edges 12 on the outside of the casing wall and the bentportion 13 adjacent thereto in engagement with the edge 14 of the casing15. The remaining portion 16 of the vertical post which is substantiallychannel or trough shaped extends into the inside of the casing wall andwith the edge 11 forms a rabbet for the purpose described hereinbefore.The

upper and lower reinforcing members 18 com-' prise simple U-shapedchannel members which are slipped over the upper and lower edges of thecasing and enclose near their ends one side of a right angle wire 19.Normally, the vertical posts II are mounted with the U-shaped channelportions 16 thereof on the outside of the casing as illustrated inFigure 16 for the purpose of permitting the casing to be collapsed; thatis to say, the reinforced member is in reverse position. The wires 19are then rocked about pivots formed at the ends of the edges 14 to lieagainst the adjacent edge 14 of the casing to form a substantially flatunit readily packed.

For purposes of assembling, the casing is first turned until the tubularformationof Figure 14 is obtained and the end of the wire 19 protrudingfrom the upper and lower reinforcing members is rotated about its pivotuntil the wire lies in a line along the edges 14 as illustrated at theleft edge in Figure 14. Vertical reinforcing posts H having previouslybeen removed, are reversed in position and placed over the wire andadjacent edge, with its channel or post portion 16 on the inside of thecasing'wall.

For purposes of interlocking adjacent casings in a stack, the wire edge19 protruding from the upper and lower channels is swung into positionadjacent the vertical edge of the casing above and below this casingrespectively and the posts of these respective casings are slipped overthe wire of the casing below and the edge as illustrated in Figure 17.To permit the wires to cross each other, they may be formed withloops.This provides a secure interlock between casings to prevent the movementof one casing with respect to the other;

It will be noted at this time that because of the shape of the verticalposts H which comprise the bulging channel shaped section 16, thehorizontal reinforcing members 18 along the upper and lower edge restdirectly on the posts or to explain it otherwise, the posts providesupports for these horizontal reinforcing members. The load in thedrawer is thus effectively applied to the lower horizontal reinforcingmember. Through the horizontal member 18 the load is transmitted to theupper horizontal reinforcing member of the casing just below on which itrests and thence through the vertical posts thereof, on which the upperhorizontal reinforcing member rests to the lower horizontal reinforcingmember, etc. The load is thus carried through these reinforcing membersto the base support. I

It will thus be seen that the load of the drawers is substantiallycarried through these reinforcing members so that as a matter of fact,the

giving rigidity to the open end of the casing to maintain a fixed. shapeand angle of the opening. When interlocked with adjacent casings, thevertical post of one casing is secured to the horizontal reinforcementof the adjacent casing so that the movement of one with respect to theother is prevented, again giving rigidity to the open end. It will beobvious that the wires crossed from one casing to the next serve toalign the vertical posts and therefore the successive casings.

As shown in Figure 15, the corner wires may comprise a continuous piecewith the ends turned into right angles, so that both ends turn together,and, as occasion may require, provide additional stiffening by itslength.

The afiiin'ng of such corner wires thus substantially assureselimination of the swaying or rocking, since the result is a metal tometal contact as distinguished from applying metal or similar bracingmeans in contact with the comparatively weak texture of materialordinarily used in constructing collapsible containers.

Intercrossing or adjacent wires in a stack as described above, interlockcontainers, prevent their sliding with reference to each other, andserve also to align the vertical reinforcement channels end to end overeach other, thus assuring greater load-carrying capacity in the stack asa whole, particularly preventing the containers at the bottom of thestack from buckling or binding on their vertical open dimension, andmaintaining a practically irreducible predetermined dimension to assureeasy withdrawal and replacement of the front'wall of the drawer.

In Figure 18, I have shown a further alternative method for preventingthe casings from slipping with respect to each other and for maintainingthe vertical posts and the casings in alignment. This'view is a crosssection taken through the upper and lower horizontal reinforcing membersof adjacent casings, and as shown, the reinforcing members 85 areprovided with notches, slots or embossings which are in relation so asto produce a channel 86 in which is mounted a key as illustrated at 81in Figure 19. -In this engagement the key, lying in the opening formedby the two embossings, locks the two casings with respect to each other.

In Figures 20 to 23, I have illustrated a further modification of myinvention. As shown in Figure 20, my reinforcing members may all be soshaped as to provide a rabbet at all edges, or, as has already beenstated, in any combination of these as desired.- In. this modification,as illustrated in Figure 22, the reinforcing members are all reversed inposition when the container is collapsed in order to permit readycollapsing thereof and as heretofore, may be shipped with the containersentirely separate.

In Figure 21, I have illustrated the turned in ends on both sides of thechannel members for the purpose of more effectively gripping the material on both sides similar to that shown in Figure 15. An alternativemethod of providing a secure connection between the reinforcing membersand the side walls is disclosed in Figure 23, in which the outer surfaceof the filler 18' comprises adhesive 11, so that when the reinforcingmember is slipped into place and pressed against the side wall, it maybe adhesively secured thereto.

In Figure 24, I have shown for purposes of illustration the combinationof drawer and casing similar to that disclosed in my parentapplicabeaded metallic strips attached to the side walls.

Although I have disclosed a channel-shaped member as the preferred typeof reinforcement members, both for the horizontal reinforcement membersand for the vertical posts, it will be obvious that where the load isnot so great, I may use flat or longitudinally beaded metallic stripssecured to the wall along the edges by any suitable means such asriveting and the like. Moreover, in the case of the upper and lowerhorizontal reinforcing members, I may use such fiat metal strips wherethe load requires channelshaped posts, or combinations of metal edgesand turn-in flaps, as shown in Figure 14.

Although I disclose rabbets formed by the vertical posts only, it willbe understood that if desired, I may, as illustrated, form rabbets withthe horizontal posts, or with both the horizontal reinforcing membersand the posts, or in any combination which may be required.

Any or all of the U-shaped channels in the forms described with orwithout rabbet formations may be shipped separately or unattached to beapplied by the'user.

It will now be understood that I have illustrated some of the forms myinvention may take and I do not wish to be limited thereby except as setforth in the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. A casing for a file cabinet or the like, said casing having an openfront end and comprising -a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; saidwalls being made of sheet material having fold lines between the top,bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable toform said walls; reinforcing members at the front edges of said bottomand top walls; vertical reinforcing members at the front edges of saidside walls to produce greater compressive strength at the open frontthan that produced by the materialin said side walls for carryingdownward stress of a load thereon, and means connecting horizontal andvertical reinforcing members to maintain rigid angular relationship;said casing being collapsible with the reinforcingmembers mountedthereon.

2. A casing for a file cabinet or the like having an open front side andcomprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being madeof sheet material having fold lines between said top, bottom and sidewalls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form saidwalls; metallic reinforcing members at the front edges of said bottomand top walls; and vertical metallic reinforcing members at the frontedges of said side walls to produce greater compressive strength at theopen front than that produced by the material in the side walls, saidvertical reinforcing members being interposed between and contactingsaid top and bottom wall reinforcing members for carrying downwardstress of a load thereon; said casing beirm collapsible with thereinforcing members mounted thereon. I

3. A collapsible casing for a file cabinet having an open front end andcomprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being madeof sheet material having fold lines along which the same is manuallyfoldable to form said walls; and reversible front edge reinforcingmembers, saidmembers having a rabbet formation selectively lying in theinterior of said casing to provide an abutment for a drawer front orexteriorly thereof; said casing being collapsible with the reinforcingmembers mounted thereon.

4. A collapsible casing for a file cabinet having an open front end andcomprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being madeof sheet material having fold lines along which the same is manuallyfoldable to form said walls; and front edge reinforcing members ofchannel formation, the front edges of walls of the casing being receivedin the channel, said reinforcing members having a rabbet formationselectively lying on the interior side of the casing or exteriorlythereof; said casing being collapsible with the reinforcing membersmounted thereon.

5. A casing for a file cabinet or the like having an open front end andcomprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being madeof sheet material having fold lines between the top, bottom and sidewalls along which lines the same -is manually foldable to form saidwalls; metallic reinforcing members at front edges of said walls toproduce greater compressive strength than that of the material formingsaid walls for carrying downward stress of a load thereon; andadditional members for maintaining said reinforcing members inpredetermined angular relation; said casing being collapsible with thereinforcing members and said additional members mounted thereon.

6. In casings to form 'a stack, a casing having an open front end andcomprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being madeof sheet material having fold lines between said top, bottom and sidewalls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form saidwalls; adjacent walls being movable angularly relative to each otherabout said fold lines to permit the casing to be shipped in knock-downcondition; front end reinforcing members for said walls of the casingincluding front edge metallic reinforcement for transmitting downwardstress from casing to casing through the reinforcing members to the baseof the stack and additional means carried by said reinforcing membersfor connecting and .maintaining corresponding reinforcing members ofadjacent casings in vertical alignment; said casing being collapsiblewith the a reinforcing members andsaid additional means mounted thereon;

'7. A casing having an open front end and comprising a bottom wall; sidewalls; a topwall; said walls being made of sheet material having foldlines between the top, bottom and side walls along which lines the sameis manually foldable to form said walls; adjacent walls being movableangularly relative to each other about said fold lines to permit thecasing to be shipped in knock-down condition; reinforcing members atfront edges of said walls; an angle wire, one leg of which is secured toone of said reinforcing members, the other leg of said wire protrudingfrom said reinforcing means, said angle wire being rotatable on saidsecured leg into position to be engaged by the reinforcing member of theadjacent edge for maintaining said adjacent walls in rigid angularrelation.

8. In casings for a stack, each casing having an open front end andcomprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being madeof sheet material having fold lines along which the same is manuallyfoldable to form said walls; adjacent walls being movable angularlyrelative to each other about said fold lines to permit the casings to beshipped in knock-down condition; reinforcing members at front edges ofsaid walls, providing means for transmitting downward stress through thereinforcing members to the base of the stack; and angular metallicmembers held in place by reinforcing members of adjacent casings forselectively maintaining said walls in predetermined angular relation andinterlocking said casings; said casing being collapsible with thereinforcing members mounted thereon.

9. An initially collapsible casing adapted to be shipped in knock-downcondition, comprising a top wall; side walls; a bottom wall; channelreinforcing members clamped over the front edges of the top and bottomwalls; corner angle members each having one leg inserted in the channelof one of said reinforcing members and adapted to be pivoted about saidone leg; and channel reinforcing members adapted to be slipped over thefront edges of the side walls and the other legs of said angle membersin setting up the casing to maintain said reinforcing members and wallsin predetermined angular relation; said casing being collapsible withthe reinforcing members mounted thereon.

10. A casing member of the class described,

comprising a quadrilateral box-like structure having a. body formed ofan integral blank of non-metallic material scored and folded alongcertain portions serving as corner edges between the top, bottom andside walls, said body having the forward end margins thereof faced withmetal strips arranged to permit folding and unfolding of said boxstructure along said scorings, and means engaging the marginal metalstrips for holding the walls of the casing member rigidly inright-angled relation.

11. A casing having an open front end and comprising a bottom wall; sidewalls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having foldlines, between top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same ismanually foldable to form said walls; adjacent walls being movableangularly relative to each other about said fold lines to permit thecasing to be shipped in knock-down condition, metallic reinforcing meanssecured at the open front end of said casing and adapted to reinforcesaid open front end and. additional means on said reinforcing means tomaintain adjacent walls of the said casing in rigid angular relation;said casing being adapted to be collapsed with the reinforcing andmaintaining means secured thereto.

12. A casing having an open front end and comprising a bottom wall; sidewalls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having foldlines between top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same ismanually foldable to form said walls; adjacent walls being movableangularly relative to each other about said fold lines to permit thecasing to be shipped in knockdown condition, metallic reinforcingv meanssecured at the open front end of said casing and engageable with saidtop, bottom and side walls at said open front, and an augularly shapedwire arranged to cooperate with said metallic means to said reinforcingmembers for maintaining the 13. A blank of sheet material for acollapsible casing with an open front, said blank having fold linesdefining horizontal and vertical wall sections of said casing, saidsections being manually foldable about said fold lines to form saidcasing; said vertical wall sections being united with and movableangularly relative to said horizontal wall section; metallic reinforcingmeans mounted on said blank to reinforce said casing at said open frontand means to maintainthe walls of said casing in rigid angular relationto each other; said blank when assembled forming a collapsible casing,said reinforcing and maintaining means being mounted on said casing.

14. A casing for a stack having an open front end and comprising abottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheetmaterial having fold lines between top, bottom and side walls alongwhich lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls; adjacentwalls being movable angularly relative to each other about said foldlines to permit the casing to be shipped in knock-down condition;vertical mewalls of said casing in rigid angular relation, and formaintaining said reinforcing members of adjacent casings in verticalalignment.

15. In a collapsible casing having an open front end and comprising wallmembers united along fold lines extending from said open end; an anglewire, one leg of which is secured at the front edge of one of saidwalls, said angle wire being rotatable on said secured leg into positionto be engaged at the front edge of the adjacent wall; means for holdingsaid angle wire in place at said latter front edge for maintaining saidadja-v cent walls in rigid angular relation.

16. In a collapsible casing having an open front end and comprising wallmembers united along fold lines extending from said open end; an anglewire, secured at the front edge of one of said walls; the portion ofsaid angle wire so secured being continuous along the edge of said wall;said angle wire having a projecting leg at each end of the securedportion thereof; said angle wire being rotatable on said secured portioninto position so that the projecting legs may be engaged at the frontedges of adjacent walls means for holding said angle wire in place atsaid latter front edges for maintaining said adjacent walls in rigidangular relation.

PHILIP ZALKIND.

